Vending machine



Dec. 22, 1964 H. B. TASSIE VENDING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I [/44 47/ /22 2a y f l I l 1 24 INVENTOR.

BY 4173.5. 74 5556, E- E- United States Patent Ofllice 3,162,494 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 3,162,494 VENDING NACHlNE Harry B. Tassie, Iss2 Vine St, St. Clair, Mich. Filed May 11, 1961, Ser. No. tea-125 1 Claim. (Cl. sin-35 This invention relates generally to vending machines, and more particularly to a vending machine having a relatively large storage capacity in relation to the overall size thereof.

Vending machines often comprise a plurality of vertically movable pallets for the support of vendible commodities. An inherent requirement of such vending machines is that the spacing of adjacent pallets at the point of discharge be sufficient to allow the hand of the purchaser to pass into the vending machine and withdraw the article purchased.

In some instances, as in the case of a vending machine for pies or other article of relatively small vertical dimension, the vertical spacing between adjacent trays required to permit passage of the human hand into the machine is considerably larger than the vertical spacing between trays required by the pie. Thus, a considerable amount of space is wasted if all of the pie-supporting pallets are maintained at the aforementioned relatively large vertical spacing.

This problem is solved in accordance with the present invention by minimizing the vertical spacing between the vendible article supporting pallets in a storage area of the vending machine and increasing the spacing of the pallets at a discharge point. Variable spacing between the pallets is effected by supporting and advancing the pallets on the threads of one or more elevator shafts, the lead of which varies from a minimum in a storage area of the vending machine to a maximum at the discharge point thereof. After movement of the pallets past, for example, a discharge opening, the pallets are stored in juxtaposed relationship against one another thereby minmizing the space required to store empty pallets.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is an improved vending machine.

Another object is a vending machine having a relatively large storage capacity as related to the overall size thereof.

Another object is a vending machine wherein pallets for the support of a vendible article are positioned and supported at varying spacing within the machine.

Another object is a vending machine wherein movable pallets are stored in a minimum amount of space after unloading.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following specification, claim and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention partially broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a vending machine 20, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, comprises an enclosure 22 having an aperture or opening 24 in a frontal face 26 thereof for the removal of vendible articles, for example, pieces of pie 2%. The pieces of pic 28 are supported on vertically spaced and movable pallets 30, respectively. The aperture 24 is normally closed by a transparent door 31 which is openable upon actuation of a control button 32, as by a linkage 33 (shown diagrammatically), after insertion of a coin through a slot 34 in a coin box 36.

Actuation of the control button 32 subsequently effects energlzation of a circuit, after closure of the door 31, to advance the next pallet 30 and piece of pie 28 vertically of the enclosure 22 into alignment with the aperture 24. The control button 32, coin box 36 and associated structure and circuitry are conventional in construction and function.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the pallets 30 are supported in vertically spaced relation on horizontally aligned threaded portions 40, 42, 44 and 46 of a plurality of elevator shafts 43, 50, 52 and 54, respectively. The pallets 30 are restrained from lateral movement by the shafts 48, 50, 52 and 54 and by the front wall 26 and a rear wall 44 of the enclosure 22.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, the vertical spacing between axially aligned points on the threaded portions 40, 42, 44 and 46, on the shafts 48, 50, 52 and 54, or, in other words, the lead of the threads 40, 42, 44 and 46, increases vertically of the shafts 48, 50, 52 and 54 so that as the pallets 39 approach the aperture 24 in the front wall 26, the vertical spacing therebetween increases so as to make access to the pic 28 by the human hand possible.

After the pallets 3% move above the aperture 24, the threads 46, 42, 44 and 46 on the shafts 48, 50, 52 and 54 terminate, moving the pallets 30 onto annular upper edge faces 57, 58, 60 and 61 on the shafts 48, 50, 52 and 54, respectively, which edge faces support the emptied pallets 30. Each empty pallet 30 moves into position, under the previously emptied pallets 30, as it moves off the threads 40, 42, and 46 onto the radially extending faces 57, 58, 653 and 61 of the shafts 48, 50, 52 and 54, respectively. Thus, the storage space required for the pallets 30, after removal of the vendible articles therefrom, is only that space required for stacking of the pallets in juxtaposed relationship.

As best seen in FIGURE 2, drive of the respective shafts 48, 50, 52 and 54 is effected by a motor 62 that is energized from a source of electrical energy 63. After insertion of a coin through the slot 34 in the coin box 36, the control button 32 is actuated, which first opens the door 31 to permit removal of the piece of pie 23, and, after closure of the door 31, energizes the motor 62 to rotate a shaft 64, which, through worms 66 and 68 on opposite ends thereof, effects rotation of complementary worm gears '70 and 72 on the upper ends of the shafts 54 and 48, respectively.

It is to be noted that a pair of contacts 74 and 76 are mounted in aligned relationship so as to be openable and closable under the control of a cam 78 on the shaft 48, the cam 78 engaging a complementary resilient cam follower 80 which supports the contact 76 for movement into and out of engagement with the contact 74. Thus, initial rotation of the motor 62, due to actuation of the push button 32, effects rotation of the shaft 64. Rotation of the shaft 64 effects rotation of the worm 68, worm gear 72, shaft 48 and cam 78. The first increment of rotation of the cam 78 results in closure of the contacts 74 and 76. Closure of the contacts 74 and 76 completes a motor energization circuit that remains in the closed condition until the shaft 48 and cam 78 make one complete revolution, bringing the cam 78 into engagement with the spring cam follower S0, whereupon the contacts 74 and 76 are separated to deenergize the motor circuit. Proper calibration of the foregoing functions results in movement of successive pallets 30 into alignment with the aperture 24 in the frontal face 26 of the vending machine 20. Rotation of the motor drive shaft 64 is transmitted to a similar drive shaft through a countershaft 92. A miter gear 94 on the shaft 64 is engaged with a complementary miter gear 96 on the shaft 92. A second miter gear 98 on the shaft 92 is engaged with a complementary miter gear 100 on the shaft 90.

'Rotationof-the shaft 90 is transmitted to the shafts 52 and 50 by worms 102 and 104 at opposite ends of the shaft 90 which are meshed with complementary Worm gears 106 and 108, respectively, on the upper end of the elevator shafts 52 gandi50, respectively. In this manner, theelevato'r shafts .48, '50, '52, and 54 are concomitantly rotated "through like increments of rotation to maintain the pallets 30in spaced parallel relationship, or, inrother words, to move the pallets 3,0 in translation .vertical of the vending-machine 2,0.

From the aforementioned description, it should be .apparent that the :change in lead of the threaded portions 40, 4'2, 44 and :46 on the elevator shafts 48, 50, 52 and 54, respectively, maximizes the storage capacity of the vending machine 20, yet renders access into the machine 20 possible by increasing the spacing between adjacent pallets -.at the discharge point ,of the machine.

It is to be understood that the specific construction of the improved vending machine herein disclosed and described is presented for the purpose of explanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits of .the invention, thescope of which is defined by the following claim.

-What is claimed is: V

A vending machine comprising an enclosure having a storage area for loaded pallets,

a storage area for unloaded pallets,

.a discharge. area,

a plurality of pallets movable into alignment with the discharge area, successively, for the discharge of vendible articles, and

a plurality of spaced parallel rotatable shafts extending between said loaded storage area, said unloaded storage area and said discharge area, each of said shafts having threads thereon for supporting said pallets, the lead of the thread on a first portion of each of said shafts in the loaded storage area being dictated by the' size of the vendible articles to maximize the capacity of said vending machine,

the lead of a second threaded portion of said shafts increasing in said discharge area relative to the lead o t e t r ads bn ifirs d qa f ai Shaft to increase the spacing of said pallets thereby to facili tate removal of the vendible articles-from said pallets,

the lead of the threads on a-third portion of said shafts in the unloaded storage area being relatively smaller than the lead of the threads in said first portion to minimize the space required for storage of the unloaded pallets and therefore minimize the size of said vending machine commensurate with its capacity.

References Cited in the: file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,634,566 Wessman July 5, 1927 1,766,717 Miller ..Q ..Q. June 24, 1930 1,907,714 Benson May 9, 1933 2,564,552 Verdery Aug. 14, 1951 

